12.
63
nearly abandoned, and thirteen out of the fourteen buildings are in a state of absolute ruin and decay. It is of great importance that this property and others should be turned to account, and I hope I shall have the assistance of Her Majesty's Government in sinking that portion of the property available for casatory purposes which is absolutely worthless in the hands of the Romance, without remote prospect of its being required for Her Majesty's Military Service.
But there will be no objection on my part to the retention of any portion which may really be desirable on the part of the Army, always bearing in mind that the grants were made at a time when the decision of Her Majesty's Government against the maintenance of a large garrison had not been so strongly pronounced as it has been, - a decision most judicious, for any attempt to make Hongkong mainly dependent on other than naval defence would lead to enormous expenses which, in my belief, would utterly fail in effecting the proposed object of securing Hongkong against foreign invasion.
29. As resources are created
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